Ruling could be death knell for girls' high school hockey

Girls hockey file pic

Extracurricular activities such as sports at public high schools are currently in limbo due to the current labour dispute between teachers and the provincial government and even if there’s a settelment, high school girls’ hockey in Halton region could be in jeopardy after a decision made last week to ban rep players from the HSSAA starting next season.

In a ruling intended to maximize participation, the Halton Secondary School Athletic Association (HSSAA) has said that it will no longer allow girls to play both rep and high school hockey after this season.

But many associated with girls’ hockey believe the decision will have the exact opposite effect.

“We would be devastated. It would end our program,” said Eric Bulthuis, director of athletics and physical education at King’s Christian Collegiate, which iced a girls’ hockey team for the first time this year. “We have 14 girls, most of whom play rep. Without them, we definitely wouldn’t have a team. It would be a huge disappointment.”

For more than 30 years, the HSSAA has not allowed rep players in its boys’ hockey league. In its ruling, the HSSAA said not allowing girls rep players was “to bring alignment and consistency of current practice.”

Last year, Oakville resident Kevin Kokotailo put forward a complaint to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario claiming the ban on rep players was discriminatory against boys.

“The no-rep rule creates opportunities for other players to play high school hockey,” said Halton District School Board associate director Jeff Blackwell.

House league players will get additional ice time to develop their skills and players who want a less taxing schedule will come from the rep hockey ranks to represent their school.

Georgetown’s Christ the King Jaguars currently are in first place in the HSSAA’s Volpe Division with a 4-1-1 record, led by a number of rep players from the North Halton Girls’ Hockey Association in their lineup.

CtK head coach Guy Coulas declined comment for this story.

Oakville Hornets Girls Hockey Association president Mike Turczyniak says the model works for boys because there are four times as many players in the minor hockey system. He says there are not enough house league players to sustain the girls’ high school league and without rep players many high school teams will fold, defeating the HSSAA’s purpose of creating more opportunities for players.

Turczyniak hoped to make a presentation to the HSSAA at its meeting at the end of January but was told via e-mail Friday, “There is no meeting to accept or deny this proposal. The new rule will be in place as of September 2013. The meeting later this month is unfortunately for only members of the HSSAA.”

He was offered the chance to share his concerns in writing.

Allie Gillies and Kristina Kocsis, both members of Notre Dame Fighting Irish hockey team, were also hoping to make a presentation. They started an online petition, have been building support through a Twitter account, @HaltonLetUsPlay, and a Facebook page and have been gathering information to show the impact the ban will have.

A survey of five schools showed that 93 players tried out, including 71 rep players. They said many teams don’t even make cuts, so if more house league players wanted to play high school, all they would have to do is come to tryouts. For example, at Robert Bateman, which ended up not having enough players for a team this year, 11 players tried out— six rep and five house league.

Nelson coach Marc Messier said the boys’ high school league is largely populated by players who leave the rep system. He doesn’t see players in the upper levels of girls’ rep leaving because those players are trying to make junior teams or get scholarships and high school games are not scouted.

“I could see the lower levels being where we lose players,” said Lindsay Oliver, president of the NHGHA, which serves Milton and Georgetown.